Reducing Addiction- aversion therapy

Question 1

what is the therapy based on?

Answer 1

• principles of classical conditioning
• aim of therapy is to opt the patient to develop an extremly negative reaction to the undesirable behaviour.

Question 2

how would a therapist use aversion therapy?

Answer 2

• client given aversive drug eg disulfiram (antabuse)
• interferes with normal bodily process of metabolising alcohol into harmless chemicals
• drink alcohol with anatabuse= severe nausea
• aim= learn new association

Question 3

what is covert sensitisation?

Answer 3

• varient of aversion therapy where aversive stimulus is imagined alongside dependecy behaviour
• these two become assoiciated (imagined stimulus + dependency behaviour)

Question 4

process of covert sensitisation

Answer 4

• relief scenorio
• imagine not indulging in dependency behaviour
• produces pleasant sensations eg ‘I will be alcohol free + healthier’

Question 5

steps of covert sensitisation

Answer 5

1. encourage patient to relax
2. therapist reads script instructing client to imagine an aversive situation
3. graphic detail given, usually about phobia
4. imagine relief scenario- turning their back on addiction
5. end of therapy

Question 6

what studies support the therapy providing effectiveness?

Answer 6

1. Meyer- 50% of alcoholics abstained for at least a year following treatment, aversion better than no therapy at all
2. Smith- contradicts- effectiveness in short term isnt effective at 12 months + relapse rate was high
3. McConaghy- covert sensitisation more effective over 12 month period for gamblers than electrical aversion. 79% compared to 50% had control in long term

Question 7

issues with the research support?

Answer 7

methodology issues->
- many studies dont include comparison group. the studies just compared covert sensitisation with aversion therapy.
- addiction has other contributing factors (cognition). CBT address this.
- therefore benefits may be exaggerated.

Question 8

ethical issues?

Answer 8

• highly unethical
• uses punishment to treat addiction- explains why drop out rates so high. aversion therapy cause physical + psychological harm eg anatbuse (nausea, vomitting, prevented from cleaning self)
• counter- can be seen as ethical as addiction to drugs/gambling is dangerous, nausea may be painful but not threatening
• unethical to not use it

Question 9

limitation

what does covert sensitisation do?

Answer 9

• only suppresses addiction, not a cure
• ppl having it may appear recovered but issue that caused addiction remained + new symptoms appear eg abuse as child
• Counter- point of behav interventions is to change behav if symptoms arise to replace ones disappeared then CS could be used to treat